396 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



for its sustenance, indeed at this time, thougli philosophers have 

 changed their opinion, the farmers, as a class, incline to the an- 

 cient theory. That we may more clearly examine its true charac- 

 ter, let us briefly review its various actions with reference to 

 growing crops. 



1. It furnishes by its decomposition, fertilizing gases and 

 minerals which are immediately available as food for plants. 



2. It acts as an absorbent and retainer m transitu^ of plant-feed- 

 ing materials wliich may come within its reach — readily yielding 

 its accumulated stores to the roots of plants, but not readily to 

 other influences. 



3. It increases the power of the soil to absorb moisture. 



4. It adds to its heat. 



5. It improves its mechanical condition, rendering it more easy 

 to cultivate and less liable to become crusted on the surface. 



First: When partially decomposed vegetable matter, such as 

 the muck of swamps, the leaf-mould of forests, or the decayed 

 roots accruing to the soil from the growth of plants whose upper 

 parts only are removed, is located in the soil, we notice in nearly 

 all instances an increase of fertility. This result is due, in great 

 measure to the nutriment furnished to the crop by the organic 

 matter, or rather by its constituents. No matter how finely pul- 

 verised, nor how largely present, it cannot in any manner enter 

 into the organism of the plant as original matter^ already formed 

 — powdered wood or a solution of sugar applied to the roots of a 

 plant would fail to be incorporated as a part of its integrants; 

 they might exist in the sap as impurities, but (unless in rare cases 

 concerning the introduction of sugar,) they could not become 

 parts of the woody fibre or sugar of the plant. Notwithstanding 

 the fulminations of old philosophers on the subjects of humus^ 

 geine, etc., they are all dead letters as far as their imme- 

 diate availability is concerned. It is only when the organized 

 body is resolved into its elementary parts that it becomes food for 

 the growing plant. When its carbon shall have allied itself with 

 the oxygen of the air, and become soluble carbonic acid; when its 

 various proximates shall have yielded theu' oxygen and hydrogen 

 in the form of water, and when its nitrogen shall have assumed the 

 form of ammonia, then can the growing organism avail itself of 

 its assistance and reconvert the old matter into healthy wood or 

 grain. In proportion as we hasten the ultimate decomposition of 

 organic matter in the soil, in that proportion do we increase the 

 benefit resulting from its presence. This decomposition is simply 



